Talking motion picture attachment



Nov. 1, 1932.- L. DE FOREST 1,885,900

TALKING MOTION PICTURE ATTACHMENT Original Filed Dec. 22, 1928 LeeDeFZr-eg? Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEE DE FOREST,OF HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL TALKING PICTURESCORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TALKINGMOTION PICTURE ATTACHMENT The present invention relates to improvementsin talking motion picture attachments, the present application being adivision of my application filed December 22, 1928, Serial No. 327,787.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a combinedswitch and film clamp operating device whereby simultaneously with theclamping of the rollers upon the him the motor circuit to the motion picture apparatus is closed and the apparatus therefore started in motion;the actuation of the switch to the reverse position opening the motorcircuit and also freeing the film.

With the foregoingand other objects in View, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made with in thescope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is the side elevation, with the door removed, of asound-on-film attachment made according to and embodying the presentinvention, an electrical diagram being shown leading from the switch toan electric motor.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view through the switch andcam actuator, dotted lines illustrating the position the parts assumewhen the arms are in outstretched position and the circuit is open.

Referring to the drawing:

The numeral 1 designates the casing for the attachment which in turn isprovided with the motion picture projector supporting edge 2 and themagazine supporting edge 8, thus providing a means whereby thisattachments constitutes a support for the projector and for the lowermagazine and so that the film F may be threaded through as indicatedfrom the constant speed sprocket 4 of the motion picture projectorapparatus. Mounted within the casing 1 is a slit-block 5 and mounted inthe lower part of easing 1 is a second constant speed sprocket 6.Optical system 7 is mounted also in the casing and Divided and thisapplication filed October below the slit-block 5 is mounted a roller 8which is cylindrical and is adapted to be rotated by the film F as thesame is drawn there-over. Carried by the casing 1 is a sup port 9 inwhich is ournalled for oscillatory movement a stem or shaft 47, theinner end of which is provided with a cam 46 so that when the same isoscillated the arms 43 and 44 may be moved outwardl against the actionof the spring 45 or be withdrawn by said spring toward each other. Inthe outer end of each of the respective arms 43 and 44 are rollers 41and 42 respectively which are adapted to engage the film F atdiametrically opposite points upon the roller 8. Mounted upon theexterior of easing 1 a snap-switch 48 with button 49, the inner end ofbotton 49 being removably attached to the outer end of the shaft or stem47 so that when the button 49 is energizing the motor M the cam 46 willbe moved to permit the spring 45 to bring the arms 43 inwardly and intoengagement with the film F. This energization of the motor then causingthe motion picture machine and the constant speed sprockets heretoforedescribed to be operated to move the film through the projector and thesoundhead. hen the button 49 is moved in the opposite direction so thatthe cam speeds the arms 43 and 44 apart and against the action of thespring 45, the motor circuit is opened and in consequence thereof themechanisms operated thereby will be halted.

There is usually mounted within the slitblock 5 within its receptacle 13a photo-electric cell 14 so that light projected from the eXciter lamp15 and the optical system 7 will be projected upon and through the filmF as the same passes over the slit-block, so that the photo-electriccell will be afiiected in the usual manner.

Thus, in this construction the attachment is provided with a lightstation, a lamp for supplying light at said station and with the drivemotor M in combination with the retatable means for causing a film totravel past said light station, said light station, as heretoforedescribed, being a slit-block and the photo-electric cell mountedtherein being the light sensitive element. This part of the mechanism inthe sound-on-film apparatus being of usual and common construction andthe main feature in the present device being the switch or meansactuated by the shift ing means to control the motor circuit.

What is claimed is:

1. In sound recording and reproducing apparatus, the combination of alight station, a lamp for supplying light at said station, and a drivingmotor, rotatable means for causing a film to travel past said lightstation, a light sensitive element at said station for receiving thefilm modulated light, shit-table means for normally retaining said filmin engagement with said rotatable means, manually operable means forshifting said retaining means into and out of operative position,and'means actuated by said shitting means to control the motor circuit.

2. In sound recording and reproducing apparatus, the combination or" alight station, a lamp for supplying light at said station, a drivingmotor, rotatable means for causing film to travel past said lightstation,

I a light sensitive element at said station 3501' re -eiving the filmmodulated light, manually operable shiftable means for normallyretaining said film in engagement with said ro tatable means, means forshifting said re- '0 taining means into and out of operative position,switch in. the motor circuit, and means actuated by said shifting meansto close and open said switch when the retaining means is in operativeand inoperative position respectively.

8. In a sound recording and reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim1, wherein the manually operable means for shifting the retaining meansincludes a slidable and rotatable stem having a finger piece, and aswitch controlled by the same and operable to closed position when theretaining means is moved into retaining position to close the motorcircuit and when moved to release the retaining means opens the motorcircuit.

4. In a sound recording and reproducing apparatus as set forth in clai a1 in which the means for shifting said retaining means includes anoscillatory shaft provided with a cam member upon one end and with arecess upon the other end longitudinally slidable and rotatable memberaligned there with and provided with means for engaging the recess toconnect the two, and a switch for the motor circuit operably connectedto the latter member. 7

5. In sound recording and reproducing apparatus, the combination of alight station, a. lamp for supplying light at said station, and adriving motor, rotatable means for causing a film to travel past saidlight station, a light sensitive element atsaid station for receivingthe film modulated light, shiftable means for normally retaining saidfilm in engagement with said rotatable means,

LEE DE FOREST.

